Faithless Brewing MTG: Modern and Pioneer for the Spike Rogue

The Greatest Brews in the Multiverse (ft. Dack_Fayden07)

Season 18, Episode 5: Interview with Dack_Fayden07
Dack Fayden may be the Greatest Thief in the Multiverse, but did you know that he also runs one of the spiciest YouTube channels for original brews in Modern?
Today on Faithless Brewing, Cavedan sits down with special guest Josip Jukic, better known as DackFayden07, to hear about his unique approach to creating winning brews in Modern. Josip’s recent MTGO trophies include gems like Melira Zoo Scam, Winota Reanimator, Rokiric Zoo Rhinos, Sultai Grief Vine, and many others. The best part? You can see all these brews in action on Dack’s YouTube channel, with short format gameplay and insightful commentary. We talk about Dack’s approach to brewing and card evaluation, his most successful recent brews in Modern, and his top picks from March of the Machine.
Where to find Josip:
YouTube: Dack_Fayden07
Twitter: @DackFayden07
Dack’s 5-0 lists
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
 
Timestamps
[1:01] Q&A with Dack_Fayden07
[4:54] Dack’s YouTube channel
[12:30] Approaches to brewing
[17:34] BW Scam GixBlade (decklist) (gameplay)
[18:59] Winota Reanimator (decklist) (gameplay)
[26:18] Urborg Lhurgoyf Crabvine (decklist) (gameplay)
[29:58] Sultai Grief Vine (decklist) (gameplay)
[34:24] Melira Zoo Scam (decklist) (gameplay)
[37:51] Zoo Evolution (decklist) (gameplay)
[48:51] Classic Zoo (decklist) (gameplay)
[52:55] Rokiric Zoo Rhinos (decklist) (gameplay)
[1:08:30] Dack’s picks: March of the Machine

Top 5 Cards to Brew from March of the Machine

Season 18, Episode 4: Brewer’s Guide to March of the Machine (Part 4) + Top Five Cards
After four grueling sessions, the Great Work of our March of the Machine Set Review is finally compleat. At the top of the mana curve, most cards are long shots for the non-rotating formats. This time, however, several new legends participate in game-winning combos or have intriguing cost reduction options.
To round things out, Cavedan and David predict the Top 5 Most Impactful cards for both Modern and Pioneer, as well as their personal Top 5 lists of cards they are most excited to brew. Clearly this is a set that will keep us busy for a while. What do you think of our analysis? What’s on your personal Top 5 list?
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
 
Timestamps
[2:49] Housekeeping
[4:51] Vorinclex — The Grand Evolution
[8:49] Sheoldred — The Scripture of Truth
[11:38] Djeru and Hazoret
[15:22] Quintorius, Loremaster
[19:19] Invasion of Ravnica — Guildpact Paragon
[22:37] Hidetsugu and Kairi
[28:12] Archpriest of Shadows
[31:12] Kogla and Yidaro
[33:42] Kroxa and Kunoros
[37:04] Invasion of Fiora — Marchesa, Resolute Monarch
[40:01] Ancient Imperiosaur
[42:37] Zephyr Singer
[42:45] Interdisciplinary Mascot
[44:03] Invasion of Segovia — Caetus, Sea Tyrant of Segovia
[44:22] Hoarding Broodlord
[47:05] March of the Machine Top 5s
[47:28] David’s Top 5 Cards to Brew
[52:22] Dan’s Top 5 Cards to Brew
[53:57] Top 5 Most Impactful: Modern
[56:15] Top 5 Most Impactful: Pioneer
[1:02:28] Ral’s Reinforcements
[1:04:00] Patreon bonus content

Something Is Very Wrong Here: Set Review, Part 3 (March of the Machine)

Season 18, Episode 3: Brewer’s Guide to March of the Machine, Vol. 3
The full set of March of the Machine is revealed, and something is clearly amiss. Every card looks good. Incubate looks synergistic and easy to transform. Battles look like tremendous value. Convoke looks fun, and Backup looks extremely versatile. Even the silly infinite combos — and there are many in this set — are looking pretty good.
This can’t be right. Either we are wrong, or Wizards is wrong. Play Design knows their stuff, so it’s probably a case of us wearing brew goggles. But that won’t stop us from trying to break these sweet new cards.
In the third installment of our Set Review, David returns to lend a Pioneer perspective on the best new additions to the brewer’s toolbox.
Rona, Herald of Invasion is the best 2 mana looter we have seen, and supports multiple infinite combos. Change the Equation has main deck potential in the current Pioneer metagame. The 1-mana backup creatures, Scorn-Blade Berserker and Enduring Bondwarden, support a tremendous variety of play patterns. Even the humble Ichor Drinker draws comparisons to Voldaren Epicure and Lingering Souls.
There’s tons of spice up and down the mana curve. Let the Great Work begin!
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
Timestamps
[3:14] Housekeeping
[4:37] Evaluating Battles: another perspective
[10:44] Backup, Convoke, Incubate
[14:23] Scorn-Blade Berserker
[17:42] Enduring Bondwarden
[21:12] Ichor Drinker
[24:32] Progenitor Exarch
[28:41] Seed of Hope
[31:35] Lithomantic Barrage
[33:08] Rona, Herald of Invasion — Rona, Tolarian Obliterator
[38:39] Invasion of Gobakhnan — Lightshield Array
[43:18] Invasion of Ixalan — Belligerent Regisaur
[47:10] Change the Equation
[50:48] Invasion of New Phyrexia — Teferi Akosa of Zhalfir
[54:24] Marauding Dreadship
[56:53] Zimone and Dina
[59:17] Invasion of Amonkhet — Lazotep Convert
[1:03:47] Glistening Dawn
[1:07:13] Rampaging Raptor
[1:09:21] Urabrask — The Great Work
[1:14:57] Elesh Norn — The Argent Etchings
[1:18:28] Invasion of Innistrad — Deluge of the Dead
[1:20:41] Invasion of Kaldheim — Pyre of the World Tree
[1:24:39] Invasion of Zendikar — Awakened Skyclave
[1:27:46] Archangel Elspeth
 

Set Review, Part 2: March of the Machine in Modern and Pioneer (ft. Lawson Zandi)

Season 18, Episode 2: Brewer’s Guide to March of the Machine, Vol. 2
The hits keep coming for March of the Machine. There’s so much to unpack, we needed brewing reinforcements, so we brought back special guest Lawson Zandi to help make sense of it all.
Chrome Host Seedshark has the potential to dominate battlefields in multiple formats. The power of Shark Typhoon on a 3 drop opens up explosive lines with free spells and cost reduction spells, and works with artifact synergies as well. New Convoke removal spells like Pile On or Temporal Cleansing could be a piece of the puzzle.
In Modern, Surge of Salvation is a huge boon for Hammer Time, providing counterplay against Force of Vigor and Rakdos Scam alike. Deeproot Wayfinder has echoes of Ragavan and Wrenn and Six. It dies to removal, but joins a roster of kill-on-sight creatures that can rapidly deplete the opponent’s interaction. And don’t rule out Omen Hawker, which provides explosive mana that fuels infinite combos with Freed from the Real, or powers up Urza’s Saga and Elvish Reclaimer.
Which cards have what it takes for Modern and Pioneer? We will find out in just two short weeks.
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
Timestamps
[1:33] Updates on Shining Shoal
[7:06] Housekeeping
[9:05] Another perspective on Battles
[14:05] Invasion of Regatha — Furnace Disciples
[17:10] Omen Hawker
[21:37] Captive Weird — Compleated Conjurer
[24:44] Surge of Salvation
[28:27] Pile On
[31:06] Temporal Cleansing
[34:09] Invasion of Mercadia — Kyren Flamewright
[36:48] Dusk Legion Duelist
[40:02] Ozolith, Shattered Spire
[41:34] Deeproot Wayfinder
[44:48] Errant and Giada
[48:04] Guardian of Ghirapur
[51:27] Sword of Once and Future
[54:01] Voldaren Thrillseeker
[56:51] Polukranos Reborn — Polukranos, Engine of Ruin
[1:01:07] Chrome Host Seedshark
[1:08:45] Halo Forager
[1:11:06] Ayara, Widow of the Realm — Ayara, Furnace Queen
[1:13:31] Tribute to the World Tree
[1:17:12] Baral and Kari Zev
[1:21:18] Invasion of Dominaria — Serra Faithkeeper

To Battle! March of the Machine in Modern and Pioneer (Set Review, Part 1)

Season 18, Episode 1: Brewer’s Guide to March of the Machine, Vol. 1
Magic has a brand new card type, and it is a brain bender. Battles (or Sieges … or Invasions…) attach spell effects to a new class of permanent. These permanents may then be attacked or damaged, similar to planeswalkers, to unlock a bonus card on the back side. Clearly each siege represents a large amount of value, but at the cost of time and efficiency. Your initial effect will be slightly below rate, and the reward for defeating the Battle may or may not be worth the progress you could have made on your opponent’s life total in the meantime.
But there’s far more to March of the Machine than just Battles. The Incubate mechanic shakes up the hierarch of Game Objects, and could be significantly more powerful than Clues if you build your deck wisely. Backup is a new twist on ETB triggers that creates some very dangerous attacking sequences, and Convoke returns with some of the strongest payoffs we have ever seen.
Today on Faithless Brewing we kick off our Modern and Pioneer Full Set Review with a close look at these new mechanics, as well as the most promising cards at the lower end of the mana curve. Will Wrenn and Realmbreaker become a multi format staple? Will there be a dedicated Battle deck? Will Knight-Errant of Eos make Morde’s value dreams come true? Find out in part 1 of our Brewer’s Guide to March of the Machine!
Read our mini-primer on Wrenn and Realmbreaker here.
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
Timestamps
[3:02] Mechanic: Battles
[4:07] Invasion of Kaladesh — Aetherwing, Golden-Scale Flagship
[6:22] Invasion of Azgol — Ashen Reaper
[7:56] How to evaluate Battles
[14:33] Interacting with Battles
[16:03] Render Inert
[17:45] Mechanic: Convoke
[19:03] Knight-Errant of Eos
[25:27] Mechanic: Incubate
[26:17] Norn’s Inquisitor
[29:20] Mechanic: Backup
[29:34] Doomskar Warrior
[33:34] Elspeth’s Smite
[34:58] Referee Squad
[36:41] Invasion of Tarkir — Defiant Thundermaw
[42:35] Invasion of Ikoria — Zilortha, Apex of Ikoria
[44:49] Botanical Brawler
[48:03] Invasion of Ergamon — Truga Cliffcharger
[51:46] Bloodfeather Phoenix
[53:36] Wrenn and Realmbreaker

UNCTUS, GRAND METATECT: Into the Metaverse of Broken Combos

Season 17, Episode 17: Brew Session (Unctus, Grand Metatect)
Unctus, Grand Metatect does it all. It draws a million cards, assembles infinite combos, and provides tempo and aggression. It powers up Mox Amber and keeps your artifact density high. Interested in devotion pips? Life loss? Graveyard synergy? Unctus does that too.
In Modern, Unctus has shown great promise in the proven artifact shells, where Urza’s Saga, Riddlesmith, and Ovalchase Daredevil make great use of the graveyard. It also provides a brilliant combo with two copies of Fatestitcher. In Pioneer, the artifact shells are less established, but no less tantalizing. Unctus sets up combos with Paradox Engine, Kiora’s Follower, Chief Engineer, or The Locust God. It also backs up aggression from Patchwork Automaton, vehicles, artifact creature tokens, and much more.
Cavedan and David have been noodling on this card for a while, and today they plunge deep into the Metaverse of artifact combos. We’ve got six new decks to test and another half dozen still to discover. What will you do with Unctus in Modern and Pioneer?
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
 
Timestamps
[2:25] Housekeeping
[4:48] Brew Session: Unctus, Grand Metatect
[6:36] Key questions
[9:50] Graveyard synergies
[14:32] Tapping creatures
[19:38] Aggro creatures
[23:33] More synergies
[25:55] Sketch 1: Izzet Thopters
[33:50] Sketch 2: UW Malcator Tokens
[41:04] Sketch 3: Sultai Tyvar Artifacts
[45:09] Sketch 4: Emry Paradox Combo
[48:21] More Unctus combos
[54:24] Sketch 5: Blue Shadow
[1:01:01] Sketch 6: Ninja Skies
[1:07:30] Unctus in Modern

I Perfected Crabvine and All I Got Was This Lousy Feature Match

Season 17, Episode 16: Weekly Roundup
David & Dan look at early previews from Lord of the Rings and March of the Machines, and ponder whether Thalia and The Gitrog Monster has the right stats for Pioneer. Dan shares his results from the Hunter Burton Memorial Open, where he played Crabvine in the Modern 15K & Neoform Atraxa in the Pioneer 5K. They also look at new technology from the event, including updates to Lawson Zandi’s Shining Shoal deck, a new take on Pioneer Dredgeless Dredge, and updates to 5c Humans.
Read Dan’s full tournament report from the HBMO Modern 15K here:
https://bit.ly/Crabvine-15K-Report-FaithlessBrewing
This article goes in depth on why Dan chose Crabvine, his updates to the decklist, round by round analysis and sideboarding guide, and a full review of a brutal camera match played at the end of Day 1.
Like our content? Support us on Patreon and join our brewing community!
Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
Timestamps
[3:27] Housekeeping
[6:55] Previews: Middle Earth + March of the Machine
[7:35] Reprieve
[12:32] Samwise, the Stouthearted
[18:40] Gollum, Patient Plotter
[22:24] The Shire
[25:44] Tom Bombadil
[30:15] Thalia and The Gitrog Monster
[37:40] Tournament Report: HBMO Modern 15K
[40:23] Dan’s Sultai Crabvine
[46:56] Round 8 feature match: Crabvine vs Murktide
[50:09] Lawson’s Boros Pitch Please
[52:15] Tournament Report: HBMO Pioneer 5K
[52:27] Dan’s Neoform Atraxa
[57:40] Sultai Dredgeless Dredge by James Adams
[1:02:07] 5c Humans by Cy Yarbrough

Capricious Hellraiser: Disappointment or Multi-Format Sleeper?

Season 17, Episode 15: Brew Session (Capricious Hellraiser) + Flashback (Malcator, Purity Overseer)
Capricious Hellraiser has been racking up 5-0s … as well as 0-5s. The card has the support of premier deckbuiliders like Aspiringspike, and yet few have been able to replicate his success. Is this a value play at RRR, similar to Bloodbraid Elf? If so, you need a big graveyard, and a tolerance for randomness in what the Hellraiser will cast. Or is this a giant 3RRR threat that can reanimate something more specific, in a smaller graveyard? The possibilities with Hellraiser are nearly limitless.
Cavedan and Morde review the best options for unlocking the synergies with Capricious Hellraiser, and discuss David’s ideas for new Pioneer brews as well as Spike’s ideas for Modern. They also check in on Project Malcator, where Cavedan has been spitting out 3/3 Golems at an impressive rate.
 
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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com
 
Timestamps
[3:05] The One Ring
[6:24] Brew Session: Capricious Hellraiser
[8:24] Rules notes
[10:36] Key questions
[15:34] Key synergies
[21:19] Sketch 1: Capricious Form
[28:48] Sketch 2: Mardu Refurbish
[34:27] Capri Sun (Jeskai Lotus Field)
[43:41] Izzet Dragon Control
[48:12] Gruul Capricious Conscription
[54:22] Flashback: Malcator, Purity Overseer
[55:43] David’s Esper Tokens
[59:39] Dan’s UW Malcator Vehicles
[1:06:45] 4c Malcator Omnath by DJeffMTG